Parachute garment lifesaving device



April 25, 1939. w D UPSON 2,156,210

PARACHUTE GARMENT LIFESAVING DEVICE I Filed July 5, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 1 Apri] 25, 1939. w. D UPSQN 2,156,210

PARACHUTE GARMENT LIFESAVING DEVICE Filed July 5, 1958 2 Sheecs-Shee'cl 2 INVENTOR al E" ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 25, 1939 uNirso stares PATENT QFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to parachute garment lifesaving devices and has for its principal object to improve generally upon devices of this character and more particularly to simplify the structure 5 and provide for the wearing of the garment prior to the occasion of its use in the lifesaving emergency without undueV discomfort to the wearer or detracting from its efficiency and durability as a safety device.

The invention consists in the novel general A structure and in the particular parts and combinations and arrangements of parts thereof, as hereinafter described and set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accomi panying drawings illustrating a practical adaptation of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a View illustrating the device as normally worn with a portion of the outer garment removed to expose the underlying portion of the folded parachute body;

Figure 2 is a View showing the parachute opened as in descent;

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the parachute opened, the illustration being more or less diagrammatic to show the relative arrangement of the seaming between the respective sectors, the Various reinforcements, and the flexible stay cord or strap arrangements;

Figure l is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, through cooperating portions of the inner and outer garments with the parachute body in folded relation between said garment portions;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view taken at right angles to that shown in Figure 4, with the outer garment removed except the upper portion thereof in the immediate region where it is attached to the innergarment';

Figure 6 is a fragmentary inner face view of one of the sectors of the parachute body and portions 4o of two adjoining sectors showing the radial seam reinforcements, annular marginal and inner r'einforcements, and the stay cord arrangements;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section, on a reduced scale, taken on or about the line 'I-l of Figure 6; and,

f Figure 8 isa fragmentary section illustrating the adjustable attachment of the main stay straps to the ankle bands of the device.

Referring now to the drawings, the device of the present invention, as therein illustrated, comprises a sleeveless garment as an entirety, said garment including an inner body I and an outer body 2 having coinciding neck openings 3 and arm holes iii, said inner and outer bodies being fastened se- 55 curely together in the region of their shoulder and adjacent chest portions by stitching or other suitable fastening means. As indicated more or less conventionally in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the attachment between the two garment bodies is effected by rows of stitching 5 across the shoulder portions from the neck opening 3 to the arm holes li and also around the neck portion, as at 1, and around the arm holes, as at 8. The two bodies I and 2 are also stitched securely together annularly about the chest portions thereof just beneath the arm holes 4, as at 9. In this connection, it is noted that the two garment bodies are slitted coincidentally from the neck opening 3 to the annular stitching 9, as at I0, to facilitate slipping the garment over the head ofthe wearer, said slitted g opening being closed by a conventional slide fastener, not shown in detail, or by any suitable fastening means which will securely close said slitted opening and hold with safety while the wearer is descending with the parachute opened as will later more fully appear but which is operable to quickly release the wearer from the garment after landing.

The skirt portion II of the inner body I of the 4garment is substantially of hip length and extends continuously around the body of the wearer but the skirt portion of the ,outer garment body 2, while of substantially the same length as the skirt I I of the inner body I, is divided vertically, at intervalsrthroughout its annular extent, whereby to provide a plurality of separate segmental flaps or apron members I2 which flare downwardlyand outwardly from the annular stitching 9 which fase tens the two garment bodies I and 2 together just below the arm holes 4, as hereinbefore described. The flaps or apron members I2 are normally fastened together only at their overlapped meeting lower corner portions by quickly releasable fasteners I3 of the character of the conventional snap fastener, means under the control of the wearer of the garment being provided for the release of the fasteners ,and opening the flaps or apron members I2, as will presently more fully appear.

The parachute body of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral I4, is ncrmally folded .within the annular pocket afforded between the skirt portion II of the inner gar# ment body I and the closed outer flaps or apron portions I2, the parachute body being constructed andv formed to have the usual umbrella shape u low the arm holes 4, said belt I5 being split at the front of the garment and provided with a suitable strap-and-buckle connection I6 at its meeting ends whereby it is readily and securely tightened about the body of the wearer so as to prevent the passage of air therebetween as well as afford a substantial support for the parachute body. As shown more clearly in Figure 4, the parachute body I4 is in three folds between the skirt portion II and flaps or apron portions I2 of the garment, the inner portion II of the parachute body depending from the supporting belt I5 next adjacent the skirt II to near the bottom of the skirt, thence folded upwardly, as at I8, and extended back to near the belt I5, from which point it is folded downwardly, as at I9, with the peripheral portion 28 close to the lower margins of the flaps or apron portions I2. In this connection, it is here noted that the paraf chute is made of silk or other suitable light weight fabric having the requisite strength and is readily gathered in making the folds so that the bulk is minimized and the garment with the parachute so folded therein may be worn without undue discomfort to the wearer.

As shown, the parachute body comprises a plurality of separate sectors 2| which are tapered longitudinally and `rounded at their inner and outer ends so that when joined Valong their longitudinal margins, the parachute body is given the required umbrella formation. The assembled structure is reinforced by radial strips 22, which are provided along the seams where the respective sectors 2| are joined, and an annular reinforcing band 23 is provided midway between the inner supporting belt I5 and the outer periphery of the parachute, while said peripheral portion is reinforced by an annular band 24, it being of course understood that the respective reinforcements 22, 23 and 24 are made of a heavier fabric than the material comprising the respective sectors 2 I.

' Coincident with each of the sectors 2| and between the inner reinforcing band 23 and the peripheral band 24 are crossed stay cords 25 which are respectively attached at one end securely to the corner portions of the reinforcements 22 and 23, as at 25, and at their opposite ends to the diagonally opposite corner portions of the reinforcements 22 and the peripheral reinforcing band 24, as at 2. The cords 25, intermediate their ends, cross each other Vslidablythro'ugh a grommet 28 and each cord is of a length somewhat greater than the directdiagonal distance between the opposed corner portions 26 and 2'I of the parachute reinforcements 22, 23 and 24 sothat in the opened condition of the parachute under the air pressure therebeneath in use, said crossed cords 25 are tautened angularly and convergently from their ends which are attached to the parachute reinforcements, as just above described, to the grommets 28, which latter have stay straps 29 extending radially between'them and the adjacent portions of the peripheral reinforcement 24 as shown more clearly in Figure 6. The straps 29 yare also ofra length so that they are tautened coincidently with the tautening of the cross cords 25 and the respective grommets 28 are connected by straps 3|? to bands 3| placed about the ankles of the wearer and held in place by stirrup straps 32 carried underthe feet, said ankle bands 3| being made of cloth or fabric of suitable strength, or sheet metal, as may be preferred, and suitable means for releasably fastening the stirrup straps 32 to the bands 3| being obviously provided. .Y

The length of each ofthe strap members 30 is governed by the diameter of the parachute in its opened condition, and to prevent undue sagging and looseness of the straps in the closed condition of the device as Worn by the user, said straps are preferably looped slidably through radial supports 33 provided therefor on the ankle bands 3 I, the ends of said straps being attached to sleeve members 34, which are slidable on the intermediate portions of the straps, by which provision said sleeve members may be adjusted to normally prevent undue looseness in the straps between the folded parachute body and the ankle bands 3 I, as shown more clearly in Figure 1, said sleeve members 34 sliding downwardly on the straps 3|] until arrested by engagement with the radial supports 33 on the ankle members 3| as the parachute body is moved into open condition and the respective straps 38 are pulled taut, as shown in VFigure 2. However,'in some cases, the slidable adjustment between the straps 30 and the ankle bands 3| may be eliminated and the straps merely folded up loosely with the body of the parachute within the pocket space between the skirt portion |I of the inner garment and the flaps or apron portions I2 of the outer garment; In this connection, it is noted that pockets 35 may be provided on the lower portions of the two front iiaps or apron members I2 of the outer garment, in which pockets the respective ankle bands and retaining straps 32 may be placed while the gari ment is being worn and prior to the time when the device is to be placed ready for the emergency.

As a practical means for disengaging the snap fasteners I 3, bands 36 are provided to be strapped about the wrist of the user of the device, said bands being connected by cords 31 to the outer releasable member 38 of the respective snap fasteners i3, so that, by lifting the arms, said cords 31 are tautened and the outer member of the fasteners disengaged from the inner member thereof and by continued upward movement of the arms the naps or apron members I2 are opened, thereby permitting the unfolding of the parachute body and the distending thereof by the air pressure thereunder during the descent. In addition to the cords 31 a web 38 comprising a marginally tapered sheet of fabric is attached at its narrow inner end portion to the garment just beneath the arm hole il, as at 39, and its outer upper corner portionV is attached to the wrist band 36, as at 40, while its lower corner portion is attached to the adjacent flap or apronmember I2, as at 4 I. Preferably, there are but two of these webs 38, one being located on each side of the garment, and normally in the lowered position of the arms said webs are loosely gathered and located entirely outside of the garment, as are the cords 31, to permit reasonable movement of the arms without disconnecting the snap fasteners I3 or lifting the lower end portions of the flaps or apron memf bers I2.

In order to enable the user to see directly downward through the opened parachute during the descent, in the event the fabric thereof is not of itself transparent, a sight opening, which is covered by suitable transparent material, as at 42, may be conveniently provided in the upper front portion ofthe body ofthe parachute. So, too, in order to restrictV the spreading movement of the feet andto aord a substantial tie between the two Aankle bands 3 I, each of the bands is provided with a strap 43, one of which has an eye 44 at its end and the otheris provided with a snap hook 45 whereby said straps may be readily attached and detached at will.

(iii

From the foregoing it is apparent that a simple yet practical and efficient parachute device is produced including a garment which'may be donned by a person before ascending in an aircraft or otherwise to a high elevation from which a leap may be necessary and with the parachute folded compactly therebeneath the garment may be worn without discomfort during the interim and is readily available when the emergency arises for its use as a safety appliance.

There is a further advantage in the particular structural arrangement of the device of the present invention in that the provision of the flexible connecting means between the ankle bands 3| not only effects a limiting tie but affords ample though restricted movement between the feet of the user of the device for enabling the user to resort to some manipulatory movement of his lower limbs to control to a certain degree the drift of the opened parachute in its descent. Also, by lifting his arms to spread the web members 38 so as to function with sail-like eifect above the parachute, drifting in the general direction of an air current is accomplished.

Obviously, the structure admits of considerable modification within the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention, therefore, is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:

l. In a safety device of the character described, inner and outer garments attached together as a unit in the upper shoulder and chest portions thereof, the inner garment having a skirt portion depending from its chest portion and the outer garment having a vertically divided skirt portion overhanging the skirt portion of the inner garment, means for detachably securing the separable sections of the skirt portion of the outer garment together, a parachute body foldable normally between the skirt portions of said inner and outer garments, said parachute body being attached to a belt surrounding the chest portion of the inner garment in a plane below the arm pits and having adjustable strap means for tightening the belt around the adjacent body portion of the wearer, convergent stay cords attached to the under side of the parachute body adjacent its periphery and about an annular line inwardly from the periphery, ankle bands having retaining straps engageable under the feet of the wearer,

and exible stay members connecting the convergent portions of said stay cords with said ankle bands.

2. In a safety device of the character described, inner and outer garments having coinciding neck openings and arm holes, said garments being secured together as a unit throughout the upper shoulder and chest portions, each garment having a depending skirt portion and the skirt portion of the outer garment being divided vertically into separable sectors, the meeting lower corne-r portions of the sectors being detachably secured together by snap fastener elements, flexible connecting means between said snap fastener elements and the arms of the wearer of the garment for disconnecting the skirt sectors of the `cuter garment, a parachute body attached at its inner portion to a belt surrounding the inner garment below the arm ho-le o-penings thereof, adjustable strap means for binding said belt close about the adjacent body portion of the wearer, said parachute body being normally folded between the skirt portions of said inner and outer garments, said parachute body comprising a plurality of separate sectors of cloth and being reinforced by radial strips of fabric along their longitudinal marginal seams, and the body being provided with a peripheral reinforcing strip and an annular reinforcing strip midway between the periphery and inner belt-attached portion, crossed stay cords extending angularly and convergently from the meeting corner portions of saidradial, peripheral and medial annular reinforcing strips, vankle bands having retaining straps engageable under the feet of the wearer, and flexible stay members connecting the converged portions of said crossed stay cords with the ankle bands.

3. In a safety device of the character described, inner and outer garments having coinciding neck openings and arm holes, said garments being secured together as a unit throughout the upper shoulder and chest portions, each garment having a depending skirt portion and the skirt portion of the outer garment being divided vertically into separable sectors, the meeting lower corner portions of the sectors being detachably secured together by snap fastener elements, flexible connecting means between said snap fastener elements and the arms of the wearer of the garment for disconnecting the skirt sectors of the outer garment, a parachute body attached at its inner portion to a belt surrounding the inner garment below the arm hole openings thereof, adjustable strap means for binding said belt close about the adjacent body portion of the wearer, said parachute body being normally folded between the skirt portions of said inner and outer garments, said parachute body comprising a plurality of separate sectors of cloth and being reinforced by radial strips of fabric along their longitudinal marginal seams, and the body being provided with a peripheral reinforcing strip and an annular reinforcing strip midway between the periphery and inner belt-attached portion, crossed stay cords extending angularly and convergently from the meeting corner portions of said radial, peripheral and medial annular reinforcing strips, ankle bands having retaining straps engageable under the feet of the wearer, and flexible tie means connecting said ankle bands.

4. In a safety device of the character described, inner and outer garments having coinciding neck openings and arm holes and being secured together as a unit throughout their upper shoulder and chest portions, said garments having common slitted openings merging with their neck openings and provided with common releasable fastening means, the inner garment having a depending skirt portion and the outer garment having a depending skirt portion freely overhanging the skirt portion of the inner garment, said outer overhanging skirt portion being divided vertically into separate sectors, means for detachably connecting the lower corner portions of said outer skirt sectors, a belt attached to and surrounding the inner garment beneath the arm holes thereof, adjustable strap means for tightening said belt about the body of the wearer, a parachute body attached at its inner portion to said belt and being foldable between said skirt portions of the inner and outer garments, stay cords attached to the under side of the parachute body in the peripheral region thereof, ankle bands having retaining straps engageable beneath the feet of the wearer, radial supports on said angle bands, and flexible stayk members attached at one end to said stay cords and being looped with means for tightening the inner portion of said parachute body around the body of the wearer of the garment below the arm pits, convergent groups of stay cords on the under side of said parachute body between the periphery and a medial annular portion thereof, ankle bands having provision for securing them to the feet of the user, and exible stay members connecting the convergent portions of said groups of stay cords to said ankle bands.

WILLIAM D. UPSON, 

